Individual Consultancy : Provision of high-quality photography services and storytelling

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Happiness

How can you make a difference?

Purpose and Objective:

Since its inception in 1946, UNICEF's identity has been linked to photographic images of children. Today, photography remains a key part of UNICEF's communication strategy, helping to maximize advocacy, education, social mobilization and fundraising initiatives. As historical documents, photographs are an essential part of UNICEF's collective memory, and contribute to the creation of children's history.

From time to time, on an ad hoc basis and as required, UNICEF Mozambique will require high quality photography services. These services will provide advocacy support for key events, to document human interest stories, press conferences, photo shoots, portraits, social media campaigns, programme communication/advocacy, donor communication/visibility, publications/annual reports, fundraising and a variety of other purposes. It is often necessary to travel to UNICEF programmes outside Maputo to document programmes or accompany visits. Photography may also be required for materials produced for general information and media purposes.

Having a dedicated consultant will ensure that the lengthy bidding process is avoided and there is uniformity over the final output. It is expected that the request for proposals will help the office contract the services of high performing photographers with national and international exposure, based in or out of Maputo on a long-term basis.

Documentary photography is a specialized field and even though most staff members take pictures of their projects, professional photos are essential for high-level advocacy to make the most impact. Projects often need to be documented at short notice. There is a need therefore to have the services of professionals with experience under contract so that they can be deployed quickly should the need arise.

Getting consultant(s) on a long-term arrangement enables the office to select the best individual best suited for the assignment.

The photos are also shared with other UNICEF offices around the world.

Methodology and Technical Approach:

As a result of the provision of high-quality photography services, photos will be produced by the photographer according to specifications, at the desired quality level, within the agreed deadline, within defined cost limits, at standardized rates, with simplified administrative processing and reduced transaction costs.

The consultant will travel to designated places across the country to take high quality photos according to a brief. The photos will be guided by international photography norms that protect children’s identity in both the making and the use of images of children.

The consultant will seek community entry as well as engage families, guardians, and caregivers in order to be given the consent to photograph minors where it is required (UNICEF to provided consent form templates).

The photographer will use cutting edge photographic equipment to perform the following tasks:

• Produce high quality photos, minimum of 50 per day/event, according to UNICEF specifications and needs below:
  • Photos need to be in the highest resolution possible. The MINIMUM accepted resolution is 2000 x 3000 pixels or 6 megapixels with zero compression; PREFERRED is 3000 x 4000 pixels and above.
  • Photos formats should be in JPEG FINE formats, photographer should NOT deliver raw files (no files with .crw, .cr2, .raw, .sr2, etc. extensions).
  • NO compression of JPEGs for transmission unless source locations are excessively slow. Never compress more than 30 per cent.
  • Except for clear mistakes, keep all exposures for UNICEF final edit / selection.
  • Maintain images in the sequence in which they were shot, so the shoot logic can be easily traced.
  • Do not manipulate any original image files - we will clean up on final selection.
• Produce captions (that tell the story of each photo) and filenames of each photo taken, according to UNICEF specifications below:
  • Captions can be provided by embedding them directly into each image (in the IPTC fields), together with credit, copyright and other relevant information. No exceptions. For assignments of three days or more, IPTC captions should also be accompanied by a Word document running caption list that references the file name of each image, with appropriate background information.
  • Captions must include in detail the principal subjects of the photos (their full names, age and if applicable job description), location (district, town, province, country), the date (on which the images were taken), any UNICEF programme or other relation (can use the UNICEF staff on location to provide more information). The photographer must submit photos with complete captions describing the scenario and situation or telling the story of the photo. The five W’s of journalism – who, what, where, when and why – apply to photojournalism.
  • Filenames: All work must be submitted with filenames in the following format: YYYYMM_[first 4 letters of country name]_[numbering with 3-4 digit pad depending on the # of images submitted].jpg For example, if a photographer sent us 1024 photos of his trip to Mozambique in March 2018, the first file would be named: “201803_MOZA_0001.jpg” and the last file would be named “201803_MOZA_1024.jpg”
• Submit the high-quality photos - on DVDs/USB pen drives/External hard drives, sent by courier, or via online transfer site - no more than 10 working days after assignment completion, and in some events might be required to submit a quick selection on the same day.
• Produce photo essays/storytelling – These include field missions where the photographer needs to produce a visual storytelling photo essay to document key programmes achievements, field stories that highlight UNICEF and donor interventions, stories for fundraising. The stories must always be written in both English and Portuguese language.

NOTE: Although this contract will be awarded for 11.5 months duration, consultant will not be engaged on full time during the 11.5 months period. Consultant will be called upon to carry out specific tasks for short durations as the need arises for which payment will be made on the basis of daily professional fee stipulated in the contract.

Activities and Tasks:

The contracted photographer will document via high quality photos:

• First person narratives producing visual human story telling with captions and quotes
• Field photography to support programme interventions and beneficiaries
• Portraits of people directly addressing the camera on various UNICEF programmes in country
• Studio photography and Family photography of UNICEF staff and partners
• Workshop and event documentation

The Documentary Photographer will be also covering the following: Special missions including campaigns, regional and national committees’ visits, documentation for donor visibility, Goodwill Ambassadors and National ambassador’s field visits, image documentation for reports and for pitching to various stakeholders and visibility to project the office externally.

The photographer will work with UNICEF staff to cover the above tasks, and some missions will require the photographer to be deployed alone to the field and be able to work with field partners to produce the above tasks.

Deliverables and Payments

The contracted photographer will deliver a minimum of 30 high quality photos per day/event of each assignment, unless otherwise specified. All photos must include all the requirements described in the Methodology and Technical Approach. For each high-quality photo, a Medium resolution/web quality (less than 1MB) should also be delivered, and these photos don’t need the IPTC fields embedded.

All photos should be submitted the on a DVDs/USB pen drives/External hard drives or via online transfer site (dropbox or wetransfer), and no more than 5 working days after assignment completion.

For some events, workshops and field trips, it will be required to submit a quick selection (maximum 10 photos) of web quality (1MB medium resolution) photos on the same day/immediate after the event, for Social Media documentation, this is subject to internet and data connectivity/availability on the events, workshop or field trip.

The contractor will be paid a lump sum as per the agreed quotation upon submission and approval of the deliverables.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Qualifications and Specialized Knowledge:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in professional documentary photography
• Specialized knowledge in photography and editing for standard, print and online media
• Similar work experience documenting rural community settings requiring travel with minimal or no support, and documenting high level events/workshops/seminars
• Availability of adequate expertise and equipment
• Good understanding of children’s rights issues and ethical reporting
• Experience working with UNICEF or comparable international organization an advantage
• Ability to deliver images according to the specified quality and technical requirements.
• Evidence of images in publications and participation in photography exhibitions an advantage
• Evidence of technical knowledge required (Preferably courses taken to substantiate knowledge on photography
• Experience working in rural Mozambique preferable but not mandatory
• Ability to communicate with children, people in rural communities and local authorities an advantage
• Good writing skills – in the production of captions that describe the events of each photo

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.